Tough To Get A Read On UConn's Linebackers

September 29, 2010|Jeff Jacobs

STORRS — — They are a microcosm of the UConn football team.

They were highly regarded. They've had injuries. They've had lineup changes that have gone unannounced. They've had disappointments. They've had terrific performances that seemed to come out of nowhere. And, yes, they've suffered from stupidity.

As they prepare for Vanderbilt, riding the tide of a .500 season that so richly describes them, they also offer a real glimmer of hope. Although, to be honest, nobody is quite sure exactly who will play where and what alignment they'll use.

Welcome to the UConn linebackers.

Remember when the Huskies went rushing into The Big House with such gaudy expectations to start the season 24 days ago? Well, there have been changes at seven of the 11 defensive positions since. That includes five different faces.

Change at linebacker has been even more profound. Considered the strength of the defense, there have been changes at all three positions. Last week, in fact, in the 45-21 victory over Buffalo, with coach Randy Edsall going to a nickel package against a mobile quarterback, only two played most of the game.

These have been trying times for Edsall. He screamed himself so silly in the locker room at halftime Saturday that he was left worrying about reaching his 53rd birthday. At one point Tuesday, while talking about backup linebacker Jerome Williams getting arrested for breach of peace after a childish, late-night scuffle with kicker Dave Teggart, Edsall shook his head and said, "You guys think this is easy?"

There is an interesting dynamic about coaching football. In baseball, basketball or hockey, if someone is playing poorly and a change is made in the lineup, it's generally looked upon by fans as a reasonable progression. Football's a little different. With fewer games and more practices, media and fans tend to jump on a coach for not already seeing the difference in personnel during workouts. Edsall is getting some of that heat these days — on Zach Frazer, on Greg Lloyd, on a couple of others.

"You see things in practice, but it's a whole different dynamic when you get on Broadway, when the lights go on and it is show time," Edsall said. "That's why you need the games.

"For whatever reason, some guys are not playing as well as they did. As a coach, do you sit there and say they're going to snap out of it? Or do you say, 'Hey, I've got these other guys here who we feel are better?' I'm going to make those moves if I can. If I don't have anybody, your hands are tied."

So without announcing changes last week, Edsall moved Lawrence Wilson from weak side linebacker to the middle, replacing Lloyd, and put redshirt sophomore Sio Moore into Wilson's spot. Sixteen tackles later, voila, Moore was Big East Defensive Player of the Week and a nominee for the Bronko Nagurski weekly award. Amazing.

"Let's not crown him Dick Butkus yet," Edsall said. "He did OK. He was productive but he wasn't as efficient, not as exact as he needed to be. Don't be patting him on the back so he starts drinking the poison."

Moore's ascension does lead to some interesting questions.

It sure seems as if Lloyd, coming off major knee surgery, would have been better off redshirted to save his final season. Edsall clearly wasn't prepared to turn over the keys to Williams before Michigan. And while Lloyd was — surprise! — proclaimed fit only days before the opener, it grew apparent that while he still can hit like a brick house, he also was moving like one. Especially against Temple.

"It doesn't look like Greg is moving real well," Edsall said. "He's not making some of the plays we've seen him make."

Lloyd also is not afraid to speak his mind and you've got to wonder if the mobility of his tongue coupled with the immobility of his legs played any role in his demotion.

Along with Jordan Todman, Wilson is UConn's most dynamic player. Edsall minimized his switch.

"The biggest thing is in terms of pass coverage," Edsall said. "The two inside positions really aren't that much of a difference."

With Vanderbilt running out of a more traditional offense, it'll be interesting to see if Edsall continues to use Gary Wilburn in the nickel package or returns to Jory Johnson as a strong side linebacker. It'll also be interesting to talk to Wilburn at some point to ask him how his position emerges into a hybrid DB/LB at points.

"Nowadays it's hard to play base defense based on what people are giving you offensively," Edsall said. "A lot of [using Wilburn] is based on schemes and not having Scott out there."